- Freeways
- I-5, CA-118, CA-170, I-405
- Starts
- Sun Valley, square C5
- Ends
- Chatsworth, square B4
- Also reaches
- Santa Clarita
San Fernando Valley, 5 and 118: the reel pickup lane
The San Fernando Valley lane follows the Golden State Freeway (the 5) and the Ronald Reagan Freeway (the 118) across the north and east of the valley, with the 170 and the 405 bringing it south to Van Nuys and the 118 carrying it west to Chatsworth and Canoga Park. It is the lane for the valley's contractor yards, recycling and aggregate yards and aerospace suppliers.
Where the San Fernando Valley, 5 and 118 run goes
The run comes over from the 5 into Sun Valley, the industrial east end of the valley, where San Fernando Road and the rail line are lined with recyclers, gravel and concrete yards and contractors. It crosses to Pacoima by Whiteman Airport, then drops down the 170 or the 405 to the industrial blocks around Van Nuys Airport. The west leg follows the 118 to Chatsworth's business parks along Nordhoff Street and Prairie Street and south into Canoga Park.
Everything on this lane except a few edges is inside the City of Los Angeles, which makes the valley LADWP territory. The department's reliability program, which replaced 61.5 miles of underground cable in fiscal 2025-26 and targets 66.0 miles by June 2027, reaches every part of it.
The run sheet, stop by stop
| Stop | Area | Grid | ZIP codes | Freeways | Usual flanges |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun Valley | C5 | 91352 | I-5, CA-170, CA-118 | 30, 42, 48, 72 in |
| 2 | Pacoima | C4 | 91331 | I-5, CA-118, I-210 | 24, 36, 42, 60 in |
| 3 | Van Nuys | B5 | 91401, 91405, 91406, 91411 | I-405, US-101, CA-170 | 30, 36, 48, 72 in |
| 4 | Canoga Park | B5 | 91303, 91304 | US-101, CA-118 | 24, 36, 42, 60 in |
| 5 | Chatsworth | B4 | 91311 | CA-118, US-101 | 24, 30, 36, 48 in |
When the deck still has room, the run also takes stops in Santa Clarita (Santa Clarita on the 5 lane).
Where the reels on this lane come from
- LADWP cable replacement
- Underground distribution cable work leaves large reels at staging yards across the valley.
- Contractor yards in Sun Valley and Pacoima
- Electrical and general contractors keep yards here and stack mixed nailed reels until there are enough to call.
- Aerospace and electronics in Chatsworth and Canoga Park
- Plants and labs empty 24 to 42 inch reels of control and data cable.
- Airport-area industry in Van Nuys
- Aviation services and fabricators around Van Nuys Airport add smaller reels.
What the stops on this lane put out
Reel sizes along the San Fernando Valley, 5 and 118 lane
| Flange | Seen at | Empties per 53 ft deck (est.) | Empty weight, lb |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 in | Pacoima, Canoga Park, Chatsworth | 416 | 23 to 24 |
| 30 in | Sun Valley, Van Nuys, Chatsworth | 189 | 39 |
| 36 in | Pacoima, Van Nuys, Canoga Park, Chatsworth | 102 | 64 to 77 |
| 42 in | Sun Valley, Pacoima, Canoga Park | 60 | 90 to 100 |
| 48 in | Sun Valley, Van Nuys, Chatsworth | 26 to 30 | 106 to 177 |
| 60 in | Pacoima, Canoga Park | 24 to 28 | 187 to 347 |
| 72 in | Sun Valley, Van Nuys | 20 to 24 | 204 to 592 |
Estimates from published reel and loading charts; method on reels per load.
What the driver needs to know on this lane
The run comes into the valley over the Newhall Pass or through the 5 and the 170, and leaves the same way. Inside the valley, the 118 is the fastest way between the east and west ends, but many stops are better reached on surface streets: San Fernando Road in the east, Roscoe Boulevard and Sherman Way across the middle, and Nordhoff Street and Topanga Canyon Boulevard in the west. The Sepulveda Pass on the 405 is slow at almost any hour, so the valley run rarely uses it.
Small stacks ride along
Sun Valley and Pacoima are where most valley stacks ride along, because the truck passes them coming off the 5 every time it runs this lane. A west-valley stop in Chatsworth or Canoga Park is easier to add when someone else on the 118 is already booked.
Windows and timing on this lane
The 405 through the valley and the 5-170 split are the slow points. We work the east end early and the west end later, or the reverse when the west has the bigger load. Many valley yards are behind chain-link with a padlock; tell us who opens the gate.
The other lanes
Questions about the San Fernando Valley, 5 and 118 lane
Do you pick up in the west valley, past Canoga Park?
Our pages on this lane run to Chatsworth and Canoga Park. Ask about addresses beyond them; we route by freeway, not by city line.
Is Santa Clarita on this lane?
Santa Clarita has its own lane up the 5, but a stop there can ride on the valley run when the truck goes over the Newhall Pass.
Who replaces the valley's underground cable?
Inside the City of Los Angeles it is LADWP, through its Power System Reliability Program.
Does the valley run go over the Sepulveda Pass?
Rarely. It comes in on the 5 or the 170 and leaves the same way.